Fishing-rod



(No Model.) 2 Sheets'-Sheet 1.

L. WALLACE.

FISHING ROD Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

WITNESSES M 9&2. a

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. WALLACE.

FISHING ROD.

No. 460,272. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS XVALLACE, OF CRAWVFORDSYlLLE, INDIANA.

FISHING-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,272, datedSeptember 29, 1891. Application filed ral-u r zs, 1891. Serial No.383,182. momma.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS WALLAcE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crawfordsville, in the county of Montgomery and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inFishing-Rods, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to fishing-rods and reels; and it consists inconstructing the rod with a hollow handle and in constructing the reeland adapting it to such hollow handles, and in certain appliances inconnection with said reels, as fully set forth hereinafter and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan ofthe handle portion of the rod, and Fig. 2 an inverted plan of the capportion of the rod as removed from the handle portion, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa plan of the butt of the rod in condition for use. Fig. A is an outsideplan of the cap-section removed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thehandle-section, showing the reel-frame and reel in place, but detachedfrom the cap,which is removed, its position being shown in dotted lines.Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan of the reelframe with its reeling devices,alarm-bell lever, and friction-brake; Fig. 7, a view illustrating partsseparated from the reel-frame and devices. Fig. 8 is a section on theline 2 2, Figs. 3 and 6. Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sectionsillustratingmodifications. Fig. 11 is a side View of the alarmmechanism; Fig. 12, a perspective View of the lever and spring of thealarm mechanism. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the tip.

The rod may be continuous or, as shown, a.

series of sections, and of steel, aluminium, or other metal, and when ofmetal it should be, preferably, in sections hollow from end to end topermit the passage of the line through it to the end of the tip,substantially as shown in Fig. 13; or it ma be of wood, continuous or insections, with the usual stirrups for the line. I

The handle-section B is hollowed to form a chamber X, in which aresupported all of the operating parts of the reel, except thecrank-handle 1, which is outside of the handle B, and the operatingparts of the reel are.

preferably supported by a detachable frame D adapted to fit within thechamber X and to be readily inserted in and withdrawn from the same, towhich end a part of the handle B is cut away to leave an opening, towhich is fitted a covering or cap-piece A, which con forms generally tothe outline of the fixed portion of the handle, and when in place formswith the fixed portion the casing for the working parts of the reel. Theframe D is preferably connected to this cap-piece, which may be whollydetachable from the portion B of the handle, in which case the edges ofthe cap-piece may fit grooves in the edges of the other portion, whichis the construction illustrated in Fig. 8; or it may be flanged tooverlapthe edges of the othersection, as shown in Fig. 9; or it may behinged at o to the other section, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to be swungto one side to expose the chamber X and frame D. In either constructionsuitable means may be employed for securing the cap-piece. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 one end of the cap-piece is fitted toa socket a; of the other section of the handle, while the other end isthreaded to conform to threads upon the other section to receive ascrew-ring O, which may be run back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and5 to release the cap-piece, or may be run forward to bind the cap-pieceand the opposite section together. The handle-section of the rod may beof metal, wood, hard rubber, or any suitable material or combination ofmaterials. If of a soft substance, the edges of the sections A and B,including the grooves for the bearing-pin 0 and the friction-brakedescribed hereinafter, should be defended with some suitable metal.

In a swell of the handle-seotion, just forward of the socket 0c, is aneye m for attaching the line to a wooden rod, the rod end of the handlebeing, as shown, formed as a hollow ferrule.

While the frame D may be connected permanently in the chamber X, Iprefer to make it detachable therefrom by connecting it to the cap-pieceA, as described. This frame D may be constructed in any suitable mannerto afford two separate receptacles or chambers, one for a reel,consisting of one or more spools. WVhen there are two spools, they areseparate, one at of which is driven from the handle 1, while the other 5turns loosely on a fixed pin 30. In case two spools are used in somekinds of fishing, a cord or part of the line is carried round bothspools, so as to form an endless traveling band 36, to which the innerend of the line 03 Fig. 6, is fastened at a point y, so that the line,instead of being upon a circular spool, is Wound in a hank, whereby anextended length of line may be carried within a comparatively contractedchamber and readily reeled in or paid out.

Any suitable direct or multiplying connection may be made between thehandle 1 and the spool 4. As shown, there is a pinion 3 connected withthe reel and a toothed wheel 2 connected to the handle and gearingtogether. Preferably the toothed wheel 2 turns upon a stud 9, secured toone of two side plates 7 6 of the frame D by a screw 30, said toothedwheel being provided with a sleeve 10, terminating in an angular end 11,fitting a socket in the cross-piece of the handle 1,a screw 12,confining the handle to the sleeve. The cylindrical portion of thesleeve 10 turns in the plate 8, forming a part of the frame D, and insome instancesas, for instance, when the handle is of wood-extendinginto or cover+ in g a side opening w, formed by cutting away a part ofthe handle, so as to expose the plate 8, which in effect forms part ofthe handle when the frame D is in place. The space between the plates 7and 8 receives the multiplying gear and also a bell 13 anda hammer 14,which is caused in any suitable manner to strike the bell upon therevolution of the spool. Thus the gear-wheel 2 has on the inner sideradiating arms 15, each adapted to strike one end of the hammer 14 tocarry it against the bell, while the spring 20, coiled round thepivot-pin of the hammer and connected with the latter, throws one endaway from the bell whenever the opposite end escapes contact with a pin.It will be observed now that the division of the frame into twoapartments, separated by the partition-wall 7, enables me to assembleall the operative parts of the reel together in one receptacle withoutthe presence of other parts that would endanger the line winding andunwinding and gives the largest exclusive space to the line, withoutwhich a reel in the handle of a fishing-rodmust always be imperfect, 'ifnot inntile. The spool 4, fixed to the shaft of the pinion 3,necessarily rotates with it, while spool 5, turning on, not with, itsaxle, maybe used with the spool 4 or not at all. It results that thereel is convertible. By tying the line through the slot in spool 4 thesportsman may have an ordinary one-spool reel, which is alwayspreferable in fly-casting. By running an end of the line over and underspool 4 and carrying it forward under and over spool 5, thence back tospool 4 and there tying the end to the line tight enough to preventslipping as in Fig. 6, both spools can be made to'rotate in parity forthe carriage of a line of greater length in proportion as the spools arefarther apart; and in this connection it will be seen that the frame ofthe reel permits extension limited only by the length of the handle ofthe rod. The walls of the frame should be as light as consistent withstrength, for which they may be cut away between all fixed parts orbearings. Aluminium is the preferable material for the mechanical partsof the reel. To prevent the line from slipping over the ends of thespools or e11- gaging therewith, the side plates 6 and 7 are recessed toreceive the spool-heads, as best shown in Fig. 8, so that the linecannot fail to pass directly tothe cylinder of the spool, and withoutinterference. Preferably the connection of the parts of the reel issubstantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The crank 1, outside the handleof the rod when closed, moves the toothed wheel 2, and that drives thepinion 3 and the spool 4. When the crank 1 is turned forward, (from thebutt of the rod,) the spool 4 rotates backward,(toward the butt,)winding the line in. Conversely, when the line is paying out, the pinion3 becomes the driving part, turning the toothed wheel 2 and crank 1backward. With respect to the operation of the alarm-bell13 and itslever 14 in paying out, each arm 15, moving in the direction of thearrow, Fig. 11, strikes the outer end of the lever 14 and forces thestriking end positively against the hell; but where the lineis wound inthe arms 15, moving in a reverse direction, swing the lever to carry thestriking end away from the bell, and the spring 20 (which ordinarilytends to keep the lever in a position away from the bell) prevents thelever from coming in contact with the bell when released from thecontact of an arm 15. thus indicated is considered preferable merelybecause offering the least resistance to the lever when the latter is incontact with the radiating arms. In gearing the wheel 2, the lever 14,and the bell 13 they should all be set on the same level, the leverhanging evenly balanced on the shaft 16, secured against lateraldisplacement, substantially as shown in Fig. 6. To control the line inpaying out, hold it fast, or check it wholly, I provide africtionbrakeof any suitable construction, and preferably carried by the frame D,with an operating-knob 25 projecting through an open* ing V in thehandle of the rod, so that pressure on the knob by one of the fingersgrasping the handle will apply a brake-shoe 23 with the force requiredto the shaft or journal of the spool 4, carrying the line, substantiallyas shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. As shown, the knob and shoe are carriedby a spring 24, secured at its inner end to the frame D.

In the construction shown the line at? passes through the hollowsections of the rod when it may pass out at the opening m of the handleB to external eyes upon sections of rods, as in rods in common use.

Among the advantages apparent from the construction and combinationabove described are, first, that any available length The spring. 5

of line may be stored upon a reel within a rod-handle of ordinarydimensions; second, that the space occupied by the line is free ofoperating appliances other than the spool or spools, making entanglementimpossible; third, that the line in paying out is under control by afinger without movement of the hand or the rod; fourth, that theexterior of the handle of the rod is without encumbering projectionsother than the crank, which may be on the exterior to give essentialcontrol, according to the fishermans judgment; fifth, that by supportingthe reel upon a frame fixed detachably to a section of the handle thereel and line may be instantly and most conveniently withdrawn andreplaced without separation of the mechanical parts of the reel ormanipulation by tools; sixth, that the strain from the ou-tpaying lineis altogether upon the driving-spool 4, thus permitting use of the rodin fiy-casting5 seventh, that the reel is convertible into asingle-spool reel or into a double-spool reel, by which the sportsmancan regulate the line as respects longth according to kind of fishingengaging him. It will be further evident that by supporting all of theoperating parts of the reel upon a frame D practically independent ofthe handle the entire reel and its operating appliances may be withdrawnand replaced without the necessity of separating the operating partsfrom each other or manipulation by means of tools or other appliances,and that access may thus be had to all the parts Whenever required.

\Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement ofparts shown, I claim 1. A fishing-rod provided with a chamber in thehandle, with side plate-supports 6 7 connected together independently ofthe handle for the spool or spools adapted to receive the line, thelatter lying between the platcs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the handle of a fishing-rod containing achamber, of a frame having two side pieces connected independ ently ofthe handle, provided with recesses to inclose the heads of the spool orspools of the reel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the recessed handle of a fishing-rod and a framefitting detachably the recess of the handle and supporting the entirereeling mechanism independently of the handle, substantially as setforth.

4:. The combination, with the recessed handle, of a fishing-rod havingan opening at one side, a cap fitted thereto, and a frame secured tosaid cap and supporting the reeling devices, substantially as set forth.

5. A fishing-rod having a hollow handle with a longitudinal detachableor removable cap-section A and means for securing the same in position,and a detachable frame sup-. porting the reeling mechanism connected tosaid cap, substantially as set forth.

6. A fishing-rod having a chambered handle, a movable cap-section withone end fitted to a socket, and a ring 0 for clamping the movablesection in place, substantially as described.

7. A fishing-rod having a chambered handle and containing within thechamber two supporting-plates 6 7 and spools, with the cylindersextending between said plates, and means for turning one of the spoolsfrom outside of one of the plates, substantially as set forth.

8. A reeling mechanism for fishing-rods, consisting of a frame, aspooling device, and means for rotatingthe spooling device, all carriedby the frame and adapted for attachment within the chamber of the handleof a fishing-rod and for removal therefrom, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the spool of the fishing-rod reel, ofsupporting-plates 6 7 8, a toothed wheel turning between the plates 7 8and provided with a series of projections and a bell, a hammer, and anoperating-spring, the end of the hammer extending into the path of saidprojections, the said plates c011- stituting part of a frame adapted tofit in a chamber within the handle of a fishing-rod, substantially asdescribed.

10. The combination, with a reel-frame inclosed within the hollow handleof a fishingrod, of a f riction-brake arranged to make contact with apart of the spool and provided with a device for projecting through thehandle of the rod in position to be pressed by the finger, substantiallyas set forth.

11. A handle for a fishing-rod, having a chamber for receiving a reeldevice with two separate apartments, a driving-wheel, a multiplyingpinion, an alarm-bell, and a lever for striking the bell arranged in onecompartment, and two spools designed for the carriage of a line arrangedin the other compartment, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS VVALLAOE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, W. CLARENCE DUVALL.

